Homemade Bagels

4 cups high grade flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water.

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until you form a dough.

Knead the dough on a floured counter for about 10 minutes, until the dough is uniform and smooth.

Cut the dough into 8 equal sized balls and rest for 10 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 220 c

Take a ball or dough and roll into a sausage shape and then join the two ends together.  Do this for all 8 pieces.

Let the bagels rest for another 20 minutes.

Bring a pot of water to boil, then add your bagels to the water as many as you can fit in your pot without crowding them.  Boil for one minute, then turn over and boil for another minute. Remove from water and let dry before placing on a greased oven tray.  Repeat until all bagels are boiled.

Bake for 10 minutes then turn the bagels and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.

Let cool then slice and cover with your favorite toppings.

Muffin Tin Monday ah... Tuesday

I forgot all about Muffin Tin Monday, but due to the time difference when it's Tuesday here in New Zealand it's still Monday in America.  So this morning I quickly put together a Muffin Tin Breakfast for George. 

Sorry for the horrible photo, I used my phone and first thing in the morning and no natural light. 

For breakfast George had, Vanilla dairy food with green sprinkles, orange juice, peach slices, marmight little people sandwiches and cheerios.  George gets a small amount of milk in a jug each morning which he pours onto his cereal himself.  

Next week I'll try to do better... but we will be camping so I will have to do some planning before we go. 

You Capture - Colourful

My Mother made this really colourful awesome tent which hangs on a branch of their plum tree in their back yard.  She also made a huge green cushion that attaches to the the bottom of the tent. 

B is for Butterfly

We've just completed week two of  Confessions of a homeschooler - Letter of the Week.  A little late due to the whole family getting a gasto bug last week but we did manage to finish it up today.  

We started the week with a Muffin Tin Meal in butterfly muffin cups.

Using the floor mats George lined them up from 1-10

Then I called out a number and George had to find it and jump on it.

Upper and lower case sorting

Counting the butterflies then found the correct number. 

Upper and lower case puzzles

Cut and paste - George started cutting out the butterfly pieces and then after cutting out one piece i finished the rest for him.  He glued it into his book all himself. 

We made butterfly wings.  Which the kids had to show their Nanna as she LOVES butterflies.

Grace and I made bagels.

George and I made butterfly cake pops.

We all ate the cake pops.

George loves these little puzzles even though they are very easy he always games to do them first. 

Sorting sizes

Patterns

I had trrouble finding do-a-dot markers, they're made in USA and not in shops in New Zealand.  I ended up buying them online and George really enjoys using them.  

I let George use the do-a-dot markers on the colouring in page as he really does not like colouring in.  I need to work on this with him as he doesn't seem to understand how to scribble lines together to get a block of colour and just complains that he can only draw lines.  

Writing practice.  George always starts this activity with a lot of enthusiasm but needs to be pushed to finish it.  I don't usually make him finish it but I like to to try something from each page.  

Butterfly lacing.  He really enjoys this task as well. 

Counting butterflies.  This I had to push George to even try, he just wasn't interested.

We also did several crafts which I'll post about later in the week. 

Hands on Play- Week Four

Week Four - In the Kitchen

This challenge nearly didn't happen as we all were sick with a gastro bug for most of the week.  Lucky both George and myself recovered quickly so we spend one afternoon while hubby and Grace was sleeping making cake pops.

I had made the cake balls a couple of weeks ago and put them in the freezer knowing I wanted to finish them off with George.

George helped me shake off the excess chocolate after dipping the cake pops and then he covered them in sprinkles before the chocolate set. 

Grace wasn't left out either.  Yesterday I made bagels and she loved heaping me roll out the dough.  Everytime I make bread Grace rushes to help me with the dough.

Next weeks challenge: Walk in nature

Meal plan monday 30/01 - 5/02

Well last week didn't go to plan, we all ended up with a gastro bug so most of the meal plan went out of the window and if you felt like eating it was typically something bland and easy to make.  I still have the Tuscan beef in the freezer as I did get it in the slow cooker on Tuesday morning but was throwing up by the evening and couldn't even manage being near the smell of it. 

So this weeks meal plan will have a lot of repeats from last week, we also leave to go camping on Friday night as it's a long weekend in New Zealand and we plan to make the most of it. 

Monday - BBQ at Nanna and Poppas (I'm taking homemade garlic and herb loaf)

Tuesday - Pulled Pork 

Wednesday - All day meat balls and spaghetti

Thursday - BBQ at Nanna and Poppas (Nanna's Birthday - taking pudding)

Friday - Take aways while driving to camping grounds

Saturday - Hamburgers

Sunday - Tinned spaghetti and soup.

I didn't make the English Muffins last week but i did try my hand at making bagels and I must admit I was pleased with the results.  We don't typically eat bagels and you have to hunt for them at the local supermarket as they're not in the bread section. I was surprised at how easy they were to make so will be making them again soon - most likely on Friday so I can take them camping with us.

Todays lunch - bagel with cream cheese and homemade plum jam

Day 27